PREVALENCE OF CYSTOISOSPORA OOCYSTS INFECTION IN LOCAL BREED OF DOGS IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Cystoisospora are apicomplexan protozoan parasites that cause diarrheoa, and even death in severe cases especially in puppies. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of Cystoisospora oocysts in faeces of dogs presented in veterinary hospitals, clinics and dogs at home in rural areas in Enugu State, Nigeria. A total of 203 fresh faecal samples were collected from domestic dogs in 6 local government area of Enugu State from February to August 2015. All the samples were processed for detection of Cystoisospora oocysts using flotation technique and examined under light microscopy. Results showed that 21 % (n = 44) of the faecal samples were positive for Cystoisospora oocysts. There was no significant association (p > 0.05) between the presence of the Cystoisospora oocysts and age, sex and faecal consistency distribution. The findings of this work showed that domestic dogs in Enugu State harbour and shed Cystoisospora oocysts in the environment. This faecal shedding is particularly so in those animals not showing clinical signs of enteritis and therefore poses greater health risk to immunocompromised adult dogs and puppies. Awareness creation amongst dog owners and breeders is therefore of paramount importance in Enugu State in particular and Nigeria in general, to educate them on the potential economic loss this protozoan can cause to puppy farms.